Resilient support for spring



Dec. 16, 1958 H. c. FLINT RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR SPRING Filed 001;. 12 1955 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent RESILIENT SUPPORT FQR SPRING Hyland C. Flint, Birmingham, Mich, assignor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application October 12, 1955, Serial No. 539,981

Claims. (Cl. 155179) This invention relates to resilient mounting blocks for springs, and particularly to a block supported in a spring frame in a manner to deflect when the spring is loaded.

In the copending application of Hyland C. Flint, Serial No. 466,906, filed November 4, 1954, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, rubber mounting blocks are illustrated, described and claimed for supporting the end of a wire spring strip. The blocks are so designed and mounted as to tilt inwardly when the spring strips are loaded.

The present invention pertains to improved types of resilient supporting blocks having simple means by which they are attached to a spring frame for supporting the ends of spring strips in a manner to tilt from the frame when the strips are occupied. Certain of the rubber blocks may be split to an aperture which receives the end of the spring strips so that the end may be placed therein before the block is secured to the frame member. Other blocks are provided with a slot to the aperture and a separate element is employed for securing the separated parts together after the spring end is placed in the aperture. A pair of apertures may be provided in the block, one for the strip which normally supports the load and an additional strip provided thereunder which picks up the load after the load has deflected the first spring strip a predetermined amount. The aperture in the body of the block, when not supporting the additional spring strip, aids in the tilting of the block and the return to normal position when the strip is unloaded.

Accordingly, the main objects of the invention are: to provide a resilient supporting block for the wire end of strips, mounted on the frame in a manner to permit the block to tilt toward the load; to provide a block for supporting the end of a spring strip which has a slot extending into the aperture which receives the spring end which is closed when the block is assembled on the frame; to provide a resilient element with an aperture for receiving the end of a spring strip which communicates with a slot that permits the spring end to be passed into the aperture and to be retained therein when the slot is closed; to provide resilient blocks for'supporting the ends of spring strips, with means for attachment to a frame in a manner to permit the blocks to tilt from the frame when the spring strips are loaded; to provide an aperture in the body of a block to permit the body to bend readily and return to initial position when unloaded; and, in general, to provide resilient supports for the ends of spring strips which are' simple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a sectional view of a frame and a resilient block embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the block and frame illustrated in Fig. 1, as viewed from the left-hand side thereof;

ice

Fig. 3 is a view of a resilient block, similar to that illustrated in'Fig. 1, showing another form thereof;

Fig. 4 is a view of a block, similar to that illustratedin'Fig. 1, showing a still further form thereof;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in.- Fig. 6, with the frame removed;

Fig. 6 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing another form thereof;

Fig. 7 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4, showing a further form thereof;

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a resilient block, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing another form thereof;

Fig. 9 is a view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8, with parts in assembled relation;

Fig. 10 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing another form thereof;

Fig. 11 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3, showing another form thereof; 7

Fig. 12 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6, showing a further form of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4, showing a still further form of the invention;

Fig; 14 is a broken view in side elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 13, taken on the line 15--15 thereof. I

The resilient blocks illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are made of rubber or like resilient material. At the forward bottom portion of the block, a toe 21 is provided, while at the rear a finger 22 extends. The toe hooks under an arcuate flange 23 of a frame member 24, while the finger 22 extends through a slot 25 provided therein. The base portion of the block is secured in this manner to the frame while permitting the upper portion 26 of the block to be free to tilt away from the frame or to the left, as viewed in the figure. The upper portion of the block is arched to the left and provided with an aperture 27 in which the wire end portion 28 of the spring strip 29 extends. When a load is applied to the spring strip 29, the end portion 28 will be urged downwardly but because of the rigid support of the base of the block the upper portion thereof will deflect inwardly, thereby providing a soft edge support for the rear end of the spring strip.

In Fig. 3 a slightly different form of block 31 is illustrated, that wherein the bottom portion is similar to the block 20 above described and the upper portion is reversely bent at 32 and provided with the aperture 27 to secure the end 28 of the spring 29 therein. This per: mits an inward rolling action to the upper portion of the block 31 when the spring strip 29 is loaded. An additional aperture 33 may be provided in the central portion of the block to assist the tilting or bending action without changing the resiliency of the block material which will thereby retain its elasticity and return the spring end to its initial position. The same or a similar aperture may be employed to support the endof an additional spring strip which is provided below the strip 29 to pick up the load after it exceeds a predetermined amount.

In Fig. 4 a block 34 is illustrated, having a rearward horizontal portion 35 which rests upon a flange 36 of a frame member when secured in position by an angle portion 37 of a strip 38. The upper portion of the block has the aperture 27 therein for supporting the end as of the spring strip 29 in the manner as above described, to permit the upper end of the block to tilt inwardly toward the load when the spring assembly is loaded.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a further form of the invention is illustrated, that wherein a block 39 is similar to the block 20 with the exception that the block is split along the line 41 to permit a wire spring 42, having a reversely bent end 43, to be secured therein. The lateral end of the spring is placed within the aperture 27 and the portion 3 44 of the block illustrated in dot and dash line is then moved down against the main portion of the block. When the block is secured to the frame 24, with the finger 22 extending through the aperture 25 in a frame and the toe 21 secured in the arcuate portion 23 thereof, the split parts abut each other. i V i In Fig. 7 a block 45 is illustrated which is similar to the block 34 with the exception that the block is split along the line 46 to permit the lateral end of the spring 42 to be placed in the aperture 27. Thereafter, the portions of the block are brought together and the block is securely anchored to the frame in the manner above described with regard to the block 34.

In Fig. a block 47 is illustrated which is similar to the block 20 with the exception that the block is split along the line 48 for the purpose of permitting the lateral end of the spring 42 to besecured in the aperture 27. Thereafter, the two portions formed by the split are moved together and the blo cksecured to the frame 24 by the toe 21 and finger 22.

In Fig. 11 a block 49 is illustrated which is similar to the block 31 with the exception that the block is split along the line 51 to permit the lateral end of the spring 42 to be inserted in the aperture 27 before the portions of the block formed by the split are moved together and secured to the frame member 24, as above described.

In Figs. 8 and 9 a further form of the invention is illustrated, wherein a block52'is similar to the block 20, with the exception that the upper portion 53 is of dovetail shape and provided with ajslot'54 communicating with the aperture 27 to permit the insertion of the lateral end of the spring 42 therein. Thereafter a clip 55 of metal or other rigid material is 'crimped over the dovetailed end '53 to close the slot 54 and securely retain the material of the dovetail in abutted relation.

In Fig. 12 a resilient block 56 is illustrated, similar to the block 52 of Figs. 8 and-9, withthe exception that' the upper end has a slot 54 communicating with the aperture 27 for receivingthe lateral end of the spring 42. A semicylindrical clamp (not shown) may be applied to the upper end of the blockto close 'the slot 54 and securely retain the material each side thereof in abutted relation.

In Figs. l3, l4 and another form of the resilient block is illustrated, that wherein a block.57 has a T- shaped anchoring portion 58atthe rear which is engaged in a slot 59 in a'frame member 61. The metal at one end of the slot is deflected toform a lip 62 which permits the T-shaped end'58 to be inserted past the lip into the slot. The end of the block has the aperture 27 for receiving the end ofthe wire 28 of'the spring 29. It is to be understood that the block57, may be changed to any of the forms of those "herein illustrated and described forsupporting either the lateral end of-the spring 29 or the spring 42. It is to be understood that a slot may be provided through the Tj-head 58 through the body of the block to the aperture 27, as ,in Fig. 7, or the block may be slotted from the top down to'the aperture, as inFigs. 8 and 12.

What isclaimed is:

1. A resilient block forsupportingthe-end of a spring strip on a frame having rearwardly extending means at the bottom for anchoringtheblock to a frame, the main portion oftheblock extending upwardly and having an aperture in the upper portion of the body for receiving the end of a spring in position to cause the block to tilt from the bottom anchored portion toward the main body of the springwhen the spring is loaded, the Upper end of the block curving toward the main body of the spring.

2. A resilient block for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame having rearwardly extending means at the bottom for anchoring the block to a frame, the main portion of the block extending upwardly and having an aperture in the upper portion of the body for receiving the end of a spring in position to cause the block to tilt fromlthe bottom anchored portion toward the main body of the spring when the spring is loaded, the upper end of the block curving toward the main body of the spring and curving downwardly therefrom in spaced relation to the body of the block.

3. A resilient block for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame having rearwardly extending means at the bottom for anchoring the block to a frame, the main portion of the block extending upwardly and having an aperture in the upper forward portion of the body for receiving the end of a spring in position to cause the block to tilt toward the main body of the spring when the spring is loaded, the upper end of the block curving toward the main body of the spring and curving downwardly therefrom in spaced relation to the body of the block, and a frontwardly extending portion at the bottom of the block opposite to said rearwardly extending portion.

4. A resilient block for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame having rearwardly extending means at the bottom for anchoring the block to a frame, the main portion of the block extending upwardly and having an aperture in the upper forward portion of the body for receiving the end of a spring in position to cause the block to tilt toward the mainbody of the spring when the spring is loaded, and a frontwardly extending portion at the bottom of the block opposite to said rearwardly ex tending portion.

5. Aresilient block for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame having rearwardly extending means at the bottom for anchoring the block to a frame, the main portion of the block extending upwardly and having an aperture in the upper forward portion of the body for receiving the end of a spring in position to cause the block to tilt toward the main bodyof the spring when the spring is loaded, the portion of the block above the aperture having a slot communicating therewith through which the end of the spring is passed to within the aperture, and a clip closing said slot and retaining the spring end in secured position.

6. A resilient block for supporting the .end of a spring strip on a frame member having rearwardly extending resilient means at the bottom for anchoring the block to the frame, the main portion of the block extending upwardly and curving forwardly, with an aperture in the forward portion for receiving the end of a spring.

7. A resilient block for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame member having rearwardly extending means at the bottom for anchoring the block to the frame, the main portion of the block extending upwardly and curving forwardly, with an aperture in the forward portion for receiving the end of a spring, and a frontwardly extending portion at the bottom of the block.

8. A resilient block for supporting the end of a spring having an upwardly extending body portion, anchoring means at the bottom of the body portion, an aperture adjacent to the top of the body portion for receiving the end of a spring, and said body having a slot extending from said aperture through said anchoring means, with the portions separated thereby retained together when the anchoring means secures the body to a member.

9. A resilient block having an upwardly extending body portion, and anchoring means at the bottom of the block by which it is secured to an element, the upper end of the body portion having an aperture therein for receiving the end of a spring, said body portion having a slot extending from the aperture through one wall thereof.

10. A resilient block having an upwardly extending body portion, anchoring means at the bottom of the block by which it is secured to anelement, the upper end of the body portion having an aperture therein for receiving the end of a spring, said body portion having a slot extending from the aperture through one wall thereof, said apertureextending through the top wall of the block, and means for closing s'aid aperture after the end of the spring has been secured therein.

11. A resilient block having an upwardly extending body portion, and anchoring means at the bottom of the block by which it is secured to an element, the upper end of the body portion having an aperture therein for receiving the end of a spring, said body portion having a slot extending from the aperture through one wall thereof, said slot extending through the anchoring means which is closed when the anchoring means is secured to an element.

12. A block made of rubberlike material for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame, said block having a body portion which extends upwardly with an aperture in the upper end'thereof, and anchoring means on the bottom of the block by which it is secured to a frame, said body portion between the aperture and anchoring means having an aperture extending therethrough for the purpose of aiding the tilting of the block when the spring is loaded.

13. A block made of rubberlike material for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame, said block having a body portion which extends upwardly with an aperture in the upper end thereof, anchoring means on the bottom of the block by which it is secured to a frame, said body portion between the aperture and anchoring means having an aperture extending therethrough for the purpose of aiding the tilting of the block when the spring is loaded, and a slot through the body of the block extending through said apertures and said anchoring means which is closed when the anchoring means secures the block to the frame.

14. A block made of rubberlike material for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame, said block having a body portion which extends upwardly with an aperture in the upper end thereof, anchoring means on the bottom of the block by which it is secured to a frame, said body portion between the aperture and anchoring means having an aperture extending therethrough for the purpose of aiding the tilting of the block when the spring is loaded, and a slot through the body of the block extending through said apertures and said anchoring means which is closed when the anchoring means secures the block to the frame, the upper end of the block curving toward the main body of the spring.

15. A block made of rubberlike material for supporting the end of a spring strip on a frame, said block having a body portion which extends upwardly with an aperture in the upper end thereof, anchoring means on the bottom of the block by which it is secured to a frame, said body portion between the aperture and anchoring means having an aperture extending therethrough for the purpose of aiding the tilting of the block when the spring is loaded, and a slot through the body of the block extending through said apertures which slot is closed When the anchoring means secures the block to the frame, the upper end of the block curving toward the main body of the spring and further curved downwardly therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,549,768 Bradley Apr. 24, 1951 

